German defense giant tests moving truck launcher carrying 18 kamikaze drones

Date:
Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:20:00 +0000

Description:
Rheinmetall tested a truck-mounted launcher carrying 18 FV-014 drones, demonstrating swarm capability, armour penetration, and long-range flight during live trials.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Rheinmetall launched an armed drone from a truck while it was moving Each FV-014 drone carries a warhead weighing about six kilograms The launcher fits inside a standard 20-foot shipping container Rheinmetall has carried out a test launch of its FV-014 loitering munition from a moving Rheinmetall HX truck fitted with its Containerized Missile Launcher.

The trial took place in July 2026 at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems, based at the German Aerospace Centre in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt. The company claims a single 20-foot Containerized Missile Launcher can hold up to 18 of the drones , allowing coordinated strikes against several objectives at once during a single operation. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: How the drone and launcher work
together Each FV-014 weighs around 22 kilograms at launch and carries a payload of roughly six kilograms, including an integrated High-Explosive Dual-Purpose warhead.

That warhead can penetrate more than 600 millimetres of solid armour steel, according to figures released by the company. You may like Ukraine's heavy bomber drones airdrop ARK-1 mine-laying robots behind Russian lines Ukraine turns $200,000 AN-196 Liutyi kamikaze drone into reusable bomber to launch jet-powered missiles 50 drones in one swat: Reusable Lockheed Martin's
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Once ejected from its container, the drone unfolds its wings and shifts into standard aerodynamic flight for the remainder of its mission.

Its electric propeller keeps the approach quiet, while a reduced radar and infrared signature is meant to lower the odds of early detection by enemy systems. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Operators keep control throughout the flight, which can last up to 70 minutes and cover a range of roughly 100 kilometres.

This gives time for reconnaissance and identification work before any strike decision is made.

The launcher itself is built around a standard ISO container, so it can be mounted on trucks, ships, or fixed positions without major structural
changes. What to read next Ukraine hits Russian Crimea targets with unmanned ship carrying FPV drones Ukraine's next weapon against Russian drones is this slightly odd tiny robot which fires nets into the air in all directions Ukraine unveils tiny 'aircraft carrier' but for FPV drone will submarine UAV launcher be next?

It connects to command and communications networks either by radio or satellite link, giving operators flexibility over where and how it is deployed.

Rheinmetall states that the system also includes a long-range power supply
and a dormant activation mode, meant to keep it functional in remote
locations for extended stretches without maintenance. What the test signals for future deployment Beyond the container launcher, the company says the FV-014 is built specifically for fast-moving, unpredictable combat conditions rather than fixed defensive lines.

Its onboard sensors and network features are designed to resist GNSS jamming, a growing concern in modern electronic warfare environments.

The system can reportedly strike armoured vehicles as well as softer infrastructure and unarmoured assets, widening its potential battlefield role considerably.

Rheinmetall also plans to extend deployment of the FV-014 to mobile land platforms beyond trucks, along with seagoing vessels.

Whether these plans move from testing toward wider battlefield adoption will depend on customer procurement decisions still pending.

The mobile-launch trial in Cochstedt appears intended to demonstrate operational flexibility to potential buyers evaluating swarm-capable
loitering munitions.

Given the secrecy typical of defense procurement, further details about
actual customer interest are unlikely to surface publicly in the near term.

The test represents a proof of concept rather than a confirmed operational rollout, and independent verification of the stated specifications remains limited. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/german-defense-giant-tests-moving-truck-launcher -carrying-18-kamikaze-drones


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